# Mini-Basketball for Preschool and School-Aged Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials

## TL;DR

Mini-basketball can help children with autism improve social skills and behavior, according to a review of studies.

## Contribution

This study is the first systematic review analyzing the effects of mini-basketball on children with autism spectrum disorder.

## Key findings

- Mini-basketball significantly reduces social responsiveness issues in children with ASD.
- Improvements in joint attention, physical fitness, and sleep quality were observed.
- The intervention showed benefits over control groups in reducing repetitive and self-injurious behaviors.

## Abstract

Background: Although the participation of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in team sports presents challenges, group-based physical activities could offer specific benefits for their core symptoms. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review was to analyze the benefits of mini-basketball for children with ASD. Methods: A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines and was registered in PROSPERO (CRD420251144800). Four databases (Web of Science, SPORTDiscus, PubMed, and Scopus) were searched to select randomized controlled trials reporting the effects of mini-basketball interventions on children with ASD from their inception to August 2025. Results: Eight randomized controlled trials involving 436 participants (aged 3–12 years, 87.3% male) met the inclusion criteria. All studies were conducted in China using 12-week interventions (40–45 min, 2–5 days/week at moderate intensity). The quality was rated as good in two studies and fair in six. Five studies assessed social responsiveness, with four showing significant pre–post reductions in the experimental groups and all demonstrating superior outcomes versus those of the controls. One study reported significant reductions in repetitive behaviors, self-injurious behaviors, and restricted behaviors compared to that of the controls. Joint attention improvements were observed through eye-tracking measures, with increased fixation counts, shorter time to first fixation, and more accurate gaze shifts. Physical fitness benefits included improved shuttle run times and standing long jump performance. Finally, one study demonstrated better inhibition control and improvements in sleep quality, including increased sleep duration and efficiency. Conclusions: Mini-basketball interventions can improve social responsiveness and related outcomes in children with ASD. These findings support mini-basketball as a feasible, safe, and effective intervention that could be integrated with existing therapeutic approaches.